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Airport Wildlife Hazards

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Wildlife Services (WS) provides Federal leadership and expertise to resolve wildlife

conflicts that threaten public health and safety. We partner with the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Department of Defense, airports, and the aviation industry to

provide scientific expertise and operational assistance to reduce the safety hazards

and economic impacts to aviation caused by birds, mammals, and other wildlife.
About Airport Wildlife Hazards 

Airport Wildlife Hazards FAQs 

Airport Hazard Research 

Protecting the Flying Public (FY20) 

Safer Skies: For Birds and People 

Strike One – You're Out 

What is a Wildlife Strike?

Wildlife strikes are when birds or other animals collide with an airplane. This may

occur when the airplane is taking off, landing, or while it is in the air. Wildlife strikes

have increased in the past 30 years because both populations of many hazardous

wildlife species and numbers of aircraft movements are increasing (Dolbeer and

Eschenfelder 2003). For example, 13 of the 14 largest (>8 lbs) bird species in North

America have shown significant population increases in the past 30 years. These

species include Canada geese, white and brown pelicans, sandhill cranes, wild

turkeys, and bald eagles.

What is “snarge”?

Snarge is the biological remains left on a plane after a wildlife strike. If snarge is

collected and sent to the Smithsonian Institute's Feather Identification Lab, feather

fragments can be used to identify the species involved in some wildlife strikes. For

strikes without significant feather fragment material, DNA can be extracted from the

blood and tissue samples to positively identify the animal involved.

Wildlife Strike Database - Wildlife Services, through an interagency agreement with

the Federal Aviation Administration, has managed the National Wildlife Strike

Database (NWSD) from 1990 to the present. The NWSD contains over 210,000

records of strike reports between civil aircraft and wildlife in the USA, including

about 14,400 reports in 2017. 

In addition, more than 4,000 strikes were reported by the U.S. Air Force in 2017.

Wildlife collisions with aircraft cost U.S. civil and military aviation approximately $1

billion annually and pose a serious safety hazard.
"Bird Strikes: How to Collect, Ship Remains, and Have Bird Remains Identified"

(YouTube Video)

"Feather Identification: When Birds Collide" (YouTube Video)

Smithsonian Institute's Feather Identification Lab

FAA Wildlife Strike Database

Wildlife Hazard Management at Airports

This Program Data Report has been developed to provide the public with information

about WS' wildlife damage management activities at airports. WS takes pride in its

partnerships and cooperation with resource owners in developing and implementing

sound, science-based projects designed to reduce conflicts between humans and

wildlife.

USDA Working to Prevent Bird-Plane Collisions (YouTube Video)

Airports Assisted by Wildlife Services — FY17

Program Data Reports — View by Airport Type and State

Statistics by State

Managing bird and other wildlife hazards at airports is a complex, public-sensitive

endeavor involving many species of wildlife governed by the Migratory Bird Treaty

Act and other Federal, State and local regulations. 

Because of the complexity and sensitivity, airports are encouraged to employ

professional biologists trained in wildlife hazard management at airports (14 CFR

Part 139.337 and FAA Advisory Circular 150/5200-36a [FAA 2012]). They assess

hazards, provide training, and to assist in the development, implementation, and

evaluation of wildlife hazard management plans.  Professionally developed and

implemented management plans minimize the likelihood of catastrophic or majordamage wildlife strikes on an airport and provide crucial support during litigation in

the aftermath of any significant strike event that might occur. WS assists airfields in

all 50 states, 3 territories and 9 foreign countries.

View Program Data Report E to filter by airport type and State.

Partners

In recognition of WS’ expertise and accountability, the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with WS,
which encourages airports to “request technical and operational assistance from WS

to reduce wildlife hazards.” The Department of Defense executed a similar MOU to

address wildlife conflicts at military installations. In 2013, a MOU between WS, the

National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) and the FAA was signed,

fostering cooperation between the signatory parties to reduce wildlife hazards at

airports in every state.

Federal Aviation Administration

Bird Strike Committee USA

U.S. Air Force

National Association of State Aviation Officials

APHIS/WS & NASAO MOU (2006)

MOU between NASAO, FAA and USDA (2003)